How to Help Recently Dumped Friends Survive the Holidays

Breaking up with a boyfriend is the WORST, but it’s impossibly more awful during the holidays, when it seems like the entire world is cozy and in love. A few of my friends have recently been dumped, and I’m trying my hardest to keep them from barfing at a world full of festive cheer. Read on for tips to help your own heartbroken friends survive the holidays!

1. Make her feel included

Let her know that, BF or not, she is still part of the group. She might be back on the market, but that doesn't mean she’s off the invite list for couple-centric events. She may not want to come, but it's important that she feels 100 percent sure she's welcome to join in.

2. Set her up!

For every newly single girl, there’s a newly single guy! Scour your contacts for cool, available dudes that she can socialize with, and make sure those boys get invited to parties and outings, too.

3. Have some girls-only fun

It’s always annoying when you think you’re hanging with your girlfriends and someone brings a boyfriend along. Rally your friends and make plans for boy-free activities—cookie baking, ice skating, shopping...whatever. She already feels abandoned by her guy, so make sure she doesn’t feel deserted by her friends, too!

4. Make her a playlist

One of my recently dumped friends is usually a Christmas fanatic, but this year she can’t bear the sound of lovey-dovey, schmaltzy, holiday music. So I made her a custom “Bah-Humbug” mix full of heartache-y holiday songs like “Christmases When You Were Mine” by Taylor Swift, “Last Christmas” by the cast of Glee and “30 Days” by Never Shout Never.

Have you recently called it quits with a guy? How are your friends helping you cope? Are any of your friends newly single? Do you have any other tips to add?